I am now very close to being of the opinion that anyone who causes a safety car through careless driving should receive an automatic one-race ban. It's too easy at the moment for some muppets scrapping for 8th or 15th place to ruin the work done by the leader in building a gap, and allow others to benefit unfairly. Because the safety is so good these days, some drivers are just completely reckless. That Perez/Grosjean incident - dear me, disgraceful driving.

Entertaining race, that was interesting for large parts. No matter the fave driver, it's one of those races that make F1 the spectacle it is. Didn't think Vettel would make it to P3, but here he is. He had lots of fortune though.

Surely mclaren need a massive change in their whole approach to this sport now. This season they've had the fastest car for the majority of the races, one of the top 3 fastest (if not THE fastest) driver in the world and they end up with said driver out of the championship with 2 races remaining (realistically 4 or 5 races remaining) and most likely 3rd in the championship. And to top it all off they also lose their star driver. That is a massive disaster really...

Agreed. They also lost ground to Ferrari in the WCC on a day where they could have closed the gap again.

But as so often, when someone of the Mclaren brass claims they have sorted out their issues, something else happens. Kind of wierd that their failures seem to be amoving target.

I am now very close to being of the opinion that anyone who causes a safety car through careless driving should receive an automatic one-race ban. It's too easy at the moment for some muppets scrapping for 8th or 15th place to ruin the work done by the leader in building a gap, and allow others to benefit unfairly. Because the safety is so good these days, some drivers are just completely reckless. That Perez/Grosjean incident - dear me, disgraceful driving.

The driving throughout the field today was appalling. Amateur hour.

Superb win from Kimi and a brilliant, relentless drive from Alonso again.

Vettel was messy and lucky to get away with it. Solid drive but he didn't really have to properly pass anyone except JB and Grosjean. His pass on JB was very good though.

I really can't believe that I almost decided not to watch this race! I think that the 2012 Valencia and Abu Dhabi races have taught us something... NEVER assume a race will be bad beforehand, regardless of which track it is!

For people who keeps saying Vettel was lucky bcs of the SCs... actually you should really blame other drivers who crashes into each other, spinning, and just doing many things that result in unnecessary pitstops that make things easier for Vettel. They could've given him harder time really.

I don't know what to say about McLaren. The design team can obviously build quick cars. Lewis isn't too shabby at getting them around the track. At some point during assembly/manufacture something is going very wrong. This is a long-term problem from at least the Hakkinen/Coulthard years.

For people who keeps saying Vettel was lucky bcs of the SCs... actually you should really blame other drivers who crashes into each other, spinning, and just doing many things that result in unnecessary pitstops that make things easier for Vettel. They could've given him harder time really.

Agreed. Of course the safety cars helped. Racing is about taking advantage of the opportunities presented.

For people who keeps saying Vettel was lucky bcs of the SCs... actually you should really blame other drivers who crashes into each other, spinning, and just doing many things that result in unnecessary pitstops that make things easier for Vettel. They could've given him harder time really.

I don't blame Vettel, fair play he drove the car to third place and he deserves it but the over the top praise of a sloppy drive isn't warranted.

I don't blame Vettel, fair play he drove the car to third place and he deserves it but the over the top praise of a sloppy drive isn't warranted.

I guess Jenson´s race last year in Canada was a poor drive in your eyes as well, right? At least he was involved in several incidents and without the race stoppage and several SC-periods he would´ve been lapped, before he had his "last 20 laps-show"...

Funnily some people (including himself) say, it was his best race ever.

Shame for Lewis who looked set for a dominant victory today, but reliability has always been a big part of this game.

Nice, inherited win for Kimi, but he made a demon start and put in the fast laps after Lewis went out. Good job in his return year.

Good fortune for Fernando, as well, but what a strong drive! Great start and overtaking moves on FASTER CARS, and EXCEPTIONAL JOB in keeping those faster cars behind after the safety car periods. Needed just a couple more laps to gobble up Kimi, but a great result, nonetheless, and makes a small dent in Sebastian's lead.

What a recovery for Sebastian, but proves the adage that it's better to be lucky than good (And he is VERY GOOD!). Had a rough start, breaking his wing in the first few corners, then the overreaction to Ricciardo, but he also had to make an extra stop, and had the pace and was in the right place to benefit from the demolition derby that took place in front of him. Excellent damage limitation! If he goes on to do a threepeat, this race will be a key factor in his claiming that WDC.

Not many other standout drives today, except for maybe Senna. Finishing drivers should get a bumper sticker saying "I Survived the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi!" Certainly wasn't a borefest.

I guess Jenson´s race last year in Canada was a poor drive in your eyes as well, right? At least he was involved in several incidents and without the race stoppage and several SC-periods he would´ve been lapped, before he had his "last 20 laps-show"...

Funnily some people (including himself) say, it was his best race ever.

But i think Vettel´s luck was not as big as it might have looked for some people. After the 1st SC-period he was still virtually last (cos of the nose change) and even without the second SC-period he would´ve finished fourth.Some of the carnage happened, when he was already ahead of these guys (Perez, Webber, Grosjean e.g.) and i don´t think that e.g. passing Rosberg or di Resta or whoever was out, before SV could actually pass him, would´ve held him up for so long, that it would´ve made a big difference...

I don't blame Vettel, fair play he drove the car to third place and he deserves it but the over the top praise of a sloppy drive isn't warranted.

Sorry, he may have been a bit sloppy, but his situation was desperate. But he more than made up for it. And that is after he had his own share of misfortunes with unscheduled pit stops. He was absolutely flying today. His pass on Button to make up 3 crucial points!

Well, if Red Bull hadn't messed up the fuel Vettel would have won today with Alonso 3rd at best so luck is a very subjective thing.

Well if Hamilton's car wouldn't breaked down today he would have won and if Mclaren wouldn't have messed Hamilton's races like 100 times, he would be leading the championship right now. Sorry but Vettel luck is very good compared to Hamilton's luck. Schumacher and Hamilton have been the unluckiest drivers this year.

if i reckon correctly there was also pass from Vettel in the left side ( i dont remember who was the second driver) on blue marked grid which is not allowed. I think in RTL TV commented that and shows playback of that moment..

if i reckon correctly there was also pass from Vettel in the left side ( i dont remember who was the second driver) on blue marked grid which is not allowed. I think in RTL TV commented that and shows playback of that moment..

Well if Hamilton's car wouldn't breaked down today he would have won and if Mclaren wouldn't have messed Hamilton's races like 100 times, he would be leading the championship right now. Sorry but Vettel luck is very good compared to Hamilton's luck. Schumacher and Hamilton have been the unluckiest drivers this year.

Not really, have we all forgotten Vettel's alternators?Alonso is the lucky one this year.

aha..ok thank you...didnt see this...anyway a lot of debatable moment specially with all this accidents specially in turn one...for me great decision of RB to call Vettel in for 2nd stop as he started to lose time...nice timing there..

Not really, have we all forgotten Vettel's alternators?Alonso is the lucky one this year.

I was comparing Vettel's and Hamilton's luck, Alonso's luck is the best, that's true, but Vettel's luck is still far better then Hamilton's. Hamilton lost freaking 50 points only in Singapore and today, not to mention everything else. He should easily be in the battle for the WC while he is only in 5th place.

Yeah sure lets modify every body's car in pit lane with set-up geared for race & then watch the results

You can watch that every GP with Ferrari. They do it, because they know, that they stand no chance in Qualifying. Makes life much easier for Alonso in the races. His passes only come from superior top speed on the straights.

You can watch that every GP with Ferrari. They do it, because they know, that they stand no chance in Qualifying. Makes life much easier for Alonso in the races. His passes only come from superior top speed on the straights.

Shit happend today for all SV haters - but they still try to hang on

Yes, for some it is just too much to take to see Seb charging and getting the reward for that to boot. No matter what he still started from the back of the field and overtook at least 30 times methinks. I also cannot understand how FA´s overtake on RoGro (in Valencia) was better than Seb´s on JB today.

You can watch that every GP with Ferrari. They do it, because they know, that they stand no chance in Qualifying. Makes life much easier for Alonso in the races. His passes only come from superior top speed on the straights.

Shit happend today for all SV haters - but they still try to hang on

proving my point, Fernando delivers much more in lesser equipment than other who have luxury to screw - up & order sister teams to move out of way to make up places.

I really can't believe that I almost decided not to watch this race! I think that the 2012 Valencia and Abu Dhabi races have taught us something... NEVER assume a race will be bad beforehand, regardless of which track it is!

lol had to think of all those negative gits b*tching about the Abu Dhabi races and how the season is all boring and dull now that Vettel is dominating. Only for this amazing race to happen

What a race, what a podium, Raikkonen with a superb drive, Alonso wringing every little bit from that Ferrari and the mega comeback from Seb Vettel.Great stuff and great for F1